Rodgers is due to count just over $20.5 million against the salary cap in 2018 and $21.1 million in 2019. Those aren’t small numbers, but his 2018 hit is set to be the 17th biggest in the NFL — a steal for a player who is arguably the league’s most impactful.

Like Cousins in Washington, the prospect of a franchise tag or free agency leaves a franchise quarterback little reason to accept anything less than a record-breaking contract. If Green Bay hopes to lock down Rodgers with a new deal, it needs to do so now before he reaches a contract year.

Otherwise, the Packers would be wise to begin grooming his replacement. It would be a prudent move, but likely wouldn’t ease the tensions between the team and Rodgers.

And, according to the Yahoo report, the team also isn’t do itself any favors by icing Rodgers out of personnel decisions.

The AFC South has gained a reputation as the least compelling division in football, but the 2018 season could help reverse that narrative.

For starters, the Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a revelatory 10-6 finish in 2017 that paved the way for the franchise’s third AFC Championship Game appearance.

Needless to say, they’ll be the favorites to take home the division crown again. They wield the NFL’s nastiest defense—one that allowed a paltry 16.8 points per game last season—and the offense appears primed for a boost following the arrivals of pass-catchers Donte Moncrief and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

However, the Jaguars won’t be in for a cakewalk.

The Houston Texans—who were ravaged by injuries last season—have a chance to reclaim their throne atop the AFC South with quarterback Deshaun Watson and edge-rushers J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus all on the mend following abbreviated 2017 campaigns.